Digger + Sepp Blatter | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/series/digger+football/sepp-blatter
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:39:29 GMT2015-03-03T19:39:29Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Fifa's João Havelange faces IOC inquiry into £610,000 bung allegationhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/16/joao-havelange-ioc-fifa-inquiry
• Honorary president in dock over BBC Panorama claim<br />• Sepp Blatter was Brazilian's choice to succeed him in 1998<p>Fifa has suffered a fresh blow after the International Olympic Committee began an investigation into one of its highest officials over a BBC Panorama programme's allegations that he took bribes.</p><p>Jo&atilde;o Havelange, the honorary president of football's world governing body and an IOC member, is the subject of the inquiry being conducted by the IOC's ethics watchdog. The allegations centre on the 95-year-old Brazilian's relationship with Fifa's collapsed former marketing partner, International Sport and Leisure (ISL), during his 24 years as president of Fifa. So far Fifa has refused to open its own investigation into the alleged corruption.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/16/joao-havelange-ioc-fifa-inquiry">Continue reading...</a>FifaInternational Olympic CommitteeSportWinter Olympics 2002FootballMohamed bin HammamSepp BlatterSport politicsWinter OlympicsOlympicsThu, 16 Jun 2011 21:39:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/16/joao-havelange-ioc-fifa-inquiryMichel Euler/APThe former Fifa president Joao Havelange, left, and his successor Sepp Blatter, right, with President Chirac at France 1998 World Cup final. Photograph: Michel Euler/APMichel Euler/APThe former Fifa president Joao Havelange, left, and his successor Sepp Blatter, right, enjoy as joke with the then French president at the 1998 World Cup final. Photograph: Michel Euler/APMatt Scott2011-06-16T21:39:00ZMohamed bin Hammam makes move against Sepp Blatter for Fifa presidencyhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/01/mohamed-bin-hammam-fifa-president
• Asia president concerned about campaign funding<br />• Qatari will formally announce his candidacy on 1 April<p>Mohamed bin Hammam will fire the first shot in the campaign for the Fifa presidency on Friday with formal calls for candidates to be prevented from using Fifa funds and resources for personal lobbying. In line with the 1&nbsp;April deadline the Qatari will deliver a letter to Fifa today formally announcing his candidacy for the Fifa presidency and will urge Fifa's general secretary, J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Valcke, to monitor closely the campaigning process.</p><p>With the costs involved of a global campaign potentially running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, Bin Hammam is concerned that Fifa's executives and staff may find it difficult to remain impartial. He is keen to guard against Fifa funds or staff time being used to support Sepp Blatter's campaign as the incumbent president.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/01/mohamed-bin-hammam-fifa-president">Continue reading...</a>Mohamed bin HammamSepp BlatterFifaFootballFootball politicsThu, 31 Mar 2011 23:06:04 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/01/mohamed-bin-hammam-fifa-presidentFrancois Mori/APMohamed bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, will formally announce his candidacy for the Fifa presidency. Photograph: Francois Mori/APFrancois Mori/APMohamed bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, will formnally announce his candicacy for the Fifa presidency. Photograph: Francois Mori/APMatt Scott2011-03-31T23:06:04ZFifa hopeful Mohamed bin Hammam flattered by anti-Sepp Blatter chatter | Digger | Matt Scotthttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/mar/15/fifa-mohamed-bin-hammam-sepp-blatter
• Qatari welcomes backing of Guardian readers<br />• Incumbent president opens football academy in Burma<p>If Mohamed bin Hammam declares his intention to run against Sepp Blatter in the forthcoming Fifa presidential election, Guardian readers will have played a part in igniting his campaign. When we wrote last Thursday that Bin Hammam, pictured below, would soon declare, readers were invited to express whom they believed should run Fifa. There were 3,731 votes cast and nine out of 10 were in favour of the challenger.</p><p>Digger asked Bin Hammam for his reaction. &quot;It is more positive daily; I&nbsp;am more and more convinced and I&nbsp;am more encouraged by the poll,&quot; he said. That conversation was last Friday; yesterday he released a statement through Twitter: &quot;I will clarify my position regarding the Fifa presidency elections, which take place in June 2011. I will hold a press conference on Friday, 18 March, at 1300 hours at AFC House.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/mar/15/fifa-mohamed-bin-hammam-sepp-blatter">Continue reading...</a>FifaMohamed bin HammamSepp BlatterFootballFootball politicsPlymouth ArgyleSportTue, 15 Mar 2011 00:06:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/mar/15/fifa-mohamed-bin-hammam-sepp-blatterVincent Thian/APMohamed bin Hammam, right, looks likely to challenge Sepp Blatter, left, for the Fifa presidency. Photograph: Vincent Thian/APVincent Thian/APMohamed Bin Hammam Photograph: Vincent Thian/APMatt Scott2011-03-15T00:06:01ZCity councils may call Fifa's Sepp Blatter to court over World Cup bidhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/04/fifa-sepp-blatter-court-world-cup
• Councils each contributed £250,000 to failed England bid<br />• Morrisons supermarket also considering legal action<p>Sepp Blatter could be called to court, to explain Fifa's conduct in the 2018 World Cup bidding race. A group of English city councils has notified the Football Association of its intention to sue Fifa for the money that was spent on their applications to be host cities.</p><p>If the matter comes to court, the Fifa president would be a key witness and would no doubt be called. In a circular sent to FA councillors last month, the then acting FA chairman, Roger Burden, said: &quot;I [have] received an approach from a possible consortium of cities which feels there could be a legal case for them against Fifa for recovery of some of the money that was spent in compliance with the bid specification, much or all of which Fifa appears to have ignored.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/04/fifa-sepp-blatter-court-world-cup">Continue reading...</a>Sepp BlatterFifaThe FAWorld Cup 2018Football politicsFootballSportWorld CupFri, 04 Feb 2011 00:04:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/04/fifa-sepp-blatter-court-world-cupArnd Wiegmann/ReutersSepp Blatter, the Fifa president, holds a copy of the world governing body's code of ethics at a World Cup news conference in Zurich. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/ReutersArnd Wiegmann/ReutersSepp Blatter, the Fifa president, holds a copy of the world governing body's code of ethics at a World Cup news conference in Zurich. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/ReutersMatt Scott2011-02-04T00:04:01ZMohamed Bin Hammam to race Sepp Blatter for Fifa presidencyhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/18/sepp-blatter-fifa-mohamed-bin-hammam
• Qatari seeks alliance with Michel Platini<br />• European leagues oppose 2022 World Cup switch<p>Sepp Blatter's hopes of securing an unopposed re-election to the Fifa presidency in May will be dashed by the ambitions of Mohamed Bin Hammam, and intriguingly, it looks like the Qatari will win favour among the big European federations.</p><p>Football's major European nations see Blatter as having exploited Fifa's one-federation-one-vote system to extremes, and suggest that the economics of football do not reflect the global macroeconomy, where emerging markets are king. Europe is still the sport's financial powerhouse and it is preparing to flex its muscles.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/18/sepp-blatter-fifa-mohamed-bin-hammam">Continue reading...</a>Sepp BlatterFifaFootball politicsFootballSportMohamed bin HammamTue, 18 Jan 2011 00:06:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/18/sepp-blatter-fifa-mohamed-bin-hammamSteffen Schmidt/APSepp Blatter could face a challenge when he stands for re-election as Fifa president. Photograph: Steffen Schmidt/APSteffen Schmidt/APSepp: satisfied. Photograph: Steffen Schmidt/APMatt Scott2011-01-18T00:06:03ZSmaller European leagues back on agenda for top clubshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/07/sepp-blatter-smaller-european-leagues
• Sepp Blatter calls for reduction of domestic championships<br />• Former G14 chief says clubs want more European games<p>Sepp Blatter has demanded a reduction of the number of teams playing top-flight football. &quot;Domestic championships are too long because there are too many teams and too many matches,&quot; the Fifa president says, and claims his Uefa counterpart, Michel Platini, agrees. How that would be achieved in the Premier League is at first glance difficult to say: the support of 14 teams would be required to reduce the number of teams to 16, which is always unlikely. However there may be a Trojan horse in the shape of the top clubs, who have been mulling over exactly what Blatter and Platini are demanding.</p><p>Digger tracked down Thomas Kurth, the former general manager of the G‑14 group of clubs that threatened to set up a European super league until its disbandment two years ago, for his view. And the big clubs are apparently seeking more opportunities to milk the Champions League cash cow. &quot;The balance that came into force at the end of the G‑14 was positive but it was not the end of the story,&quot; said Kurth, who remains an adviser to the top clubs. &quot;There may be 16-team leagues and an increasing number of match days in Europe: from 13 to 18 or 20.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/07/sepp-blatter-smaller-european-leagues">Continue reading...</a>Football politicsFootballUefaFifaSepp BlatterSportFri, 07 Jan 2011 00:05:04 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/07/sepp-blatter-smaller-european-leaguesSiphiwe Sibeko/ReutersThe Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, says domestic championships are too big and too long. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/ReutersSiphiwe Sibeko/ReutersSepp Blatter says Fifa could change football's points system. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/ReutersMatt Scott2011-01-07T00:05:04ZPrime minister to back 2018 World Cup bid in talks with Sepp Blatterhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/06/digger-david-cameron-sepp-blatter
• Meeting marks gear change for campaign<br />• Reception date a closely guarded secret<p>David Cameron is set to receive Sepp Blatter at No10 Downing Street next week, fulfilling a two-month-old promise to the Fifa president. The reception will be a clear demonstration of the prime minister's full engagement with the England 2018 World Cup bid and marks another gear change for the campaign ahead of the 2 December vote.</p><p>England 2018 executives regard the meeting as so critical to the success of the bid that the date has been kept a closely guarded secret. When a spokesman was approached with a request for comment yesterday in response to the information that the meeting was going ahead, England 2018 refused to discuss the matter.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/06/digger-david-cameron-sepp-blatter">Continue reading...</a>David CameronSepp BlatterWorld Cup 2018FifaSportWorld CupTue, 05 Oct 2010 23:06:02 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/06/digger-david-cameron-sepp-blatterMurdo Macleod/Murdo MacLeodDavid Cameron will meet Sepp Blatter after this week's Tory conference. Photograph: Murdo MacleodBen Stansall/AFP/Getty ImagesDavid Cameron in the audience at the Conservative conference. Will he be able to smother the subversive talk coming from the right of the party? Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty ImagesMatt Scott2010-10-05T23:06:02ZBin Hammam calls time on Sepp Blatterhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/18/fifa-sepp-blatter-mohammed-bin-hammam
• Two terms is enough for Fifa president, says Hammam<br />• Hammam says his colleagues will propose amendment<p>Sepp Blatter's authority as Fifa president faces its biggest challenge yet, with a move from within the world governing body's executive committee to limit the presidential office to two terms.</p><p>Speaking to Digger from Kuala Lumpur last night, Mohammed Bin Hammam, one of football's most powerful men as president of the Asian Football Congress, announced his intention to put the radical proposal before the executive committee at its next meeting in Zurich on 18 and 19 March. Bin Hammam claims he can count already on the support of two unnamed committee members.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/18/fifa-sepp-blatter-mohammed-bin-hammam">Continue reading...</a>FifaSepp BlatterFootballSportMohamed bin HammamThu, 18 Feb 2010 00:17:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/18/fifa-sepp-blatter-mohammed-bin-hammamMark Baker/APThe Asian Football Congress president, Mohammed Bin Hammam, right, says two four-year terms is enough for any Fifa president, including Sepp Blatter, left, who is nearing the end of his third term and seeking a fourth. Photograph: Mark Baker/APMark Baker/APAsian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam, right, says two four-year terms is enough for Sepp Blatter's role of Fifa president. Photograph: Mark Baker/APMatt Scott2010-02-18T00:17:00ZFifa 'abandons' child trafficking campaignhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/04/fifa-child-trafficking-sepp-blatter
• Blatter had announced 'full support' for French NGO<br />• World Cup could see 'institutionalisation' of traffick in minors<p>Fifa has been accused by a partner organisation of &quot;abandoning&quot; its commitment to an awareness campaign warning African youngsters of the dangers of child trafficking.</p><p>Digger has obtained a copy of a letter to Sepp Blatter from Foot Solidaire, a French non-governmental organisation the Fifa president himself announced 18 months ago would receive &quot;full support&quot; from the world governing body and which the Fifa website describes as being &quot;backed by Fifa&quot;. Yet Foot Solidaire claims that on the eve of the first-ever World Cup to be held on African soil, Fifa has withdrawn support for the education programme.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/04/fifa-child-trafficking-sepp-blatter">Continue reading...</a>FifaSepp BlatterFootballSportThu, 04 Feb 2010 00:10:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/04/fifa-child-trafficking-sepp-blatterJuan Medina/ReutersFifa's president, Sepp Blatter, has been accused of dropping an awareness campaign about child trafficking because of budgetary considerations. Photograph: Juan Medina/ReutersJuan Medina/ReutersFifa's president, Sepp Blatter, has been accused of dropping an awareness campaign about child trafficking because of budgetary considerations. Photograph: Juan Medina/ReutersMatt Scott2010-02-04T00:10:01ZPressure mounts on Fifa's Sepp Blatter after Champagne is put on ice | Diggerhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/19/sepp-blatter-fifa-president
• Blatter sees influence of continental confederations grow<br />• Success of first World Cup in Africa key to re-election<p>Sepp Blatter is under increasing pressure as the president of Fifa, with his closest adviser having been dismissed last Friday following a coup. The departure of Fifa's director of international relations, J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Champagne, came as a result of the same stormy, seditious executive committee meeting last month at which Blatter was challenged over Fifa finances.</p><p>The move on Robben Island reflected a growing boldness among the heads of continental confederations, who have been growing their own powerbases and influence at the expense of Fifa's once-omnipotent president.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/19/sepp-blatter-fifa-president">Continue reading...</a>FifaSepp BlatterSportFootballTue, 19 Jan 2010 00:10:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/19/sepp-blatter-fifa-presidentLindsey Parnaby/EPAFifa president Sepp Blatter is coming up against increasingly bold continental confederations in an internal power struggle. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPALindsey Parnaby/EPAThe US hope their list of 18 bid cities will convince Fifa President Sepp Blatter to back their campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPAMatt Scott2010-01-19T00:10:03ZMohammed Bin Hammam scores an own goal for Fifahttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/14/sepp-blatter-mohamed-bin-hammam-fifa
Mohammed Bin Hammam's ambitions for the Fifa presidency may have taken a hit after he challenged Sepp Blatter over the allocation of grassroots funds to Nigeria<p>Senior figures in football are abuzz with talk of a heated disagreement between Sepp Blatter and Mohammed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Congress.</p><p>At the Fifa executive committee's meeting on South Africa's Robben Island last month, Bin Hammam challenged the Fifa president over the allocation of Goal programme funds to Nigeria.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/14/sepp-blatter-mohamed-bin-hammam-fifa">Continue reading...</a>Sepp BlatterFifaFootballSportMohamed bin HammamThu, 14 Jan 2010 21:29:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/14/sepp-blatter-mohamed-bin-hammam-fifaAnwar Amro/AFP/Getty ImagesMohammed bin Hammam had a falling out with Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Photograph: Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty ImagesAnwar Amro/AFP/Getty ImagesMohammed bin Hammam had a falling out with Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Photograph: Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty ImagesMatt Scott2010-01-14T21:29:00ZSend out the 'clown' Sir Dave Richardshttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/25/england-2018-world-cup-dave-richards
• Premier League chairman 'not popular' figure<br />• Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini 'dislike' Richards<p>Sir Dave Richards' withdrawal from the England 2018 World Cup bid yesterday was not met with universal disappointment in football's corridors of power. Indeed, one well-connected individual from the world of football politics even took time out to call Digger after reading the story the Guardian broke on Richards' resignation.</p><p>Far from expressing a view that the Premier League chairman's move damages the bid, the high-ranking football mandarin said: &quot;Why do people in the English press all think that Dave Richards is so popular around the football world?&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/25/england-2018-world-cup-dave-richards">Continue reading...</a>World Cup 2018The FAFootballSportSepp BlatterMichel PlatiniWorld CupWed, 25 Nov 2009 00:05:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/25/england-2018-world-cup-dave-richardsAndy Wong/APSir Dave Richards, chairman of the Premier League. Photograph: Andy Wong/APAndy Wong/APSir Dave Richards, chairman of the Premier League. Photograph: Andy Wong/APMatt Scott2009-11-25T00:05:20ZDigger: Club takeovers under scrutinyhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/07/premierleague
<p>Moves are afoot both in Whitehall and the highest levels of the world game to tighten the rules governing ownership of football clubs.</p><p>Gerry Sutcliffe, the sports minister, and Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, yesterday set out their demands for reform of the regulatory framework involved in football shareholdings. Speaking 200 miles apart and without knowing each other's agenda their comments show a unity that could mean the rash of takeovers will not be sustainable in the long term. &quot;You can buy a team like a football shirt,&quot; said Blatter, pledging to end the practice.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/07/premierleague">Continue reading...</a>Premier LeagueFootballSportSepp BlatterMon, 06 Oct 2008 23:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/07/premierleagueMatt Scott2008-10-06T23:01:00ZDigger: A trip too late for Scudamorehttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/22/premierleague
<p>Richard Scudamore's now-pointless trip to Fifa headquarters next Thursday was a visit he should have paid weeks ago if the Premier League's international-round proposal was not to be stillborn.</p><p>The Premier League chief executive will receive a dressing-down from the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, over the manner of the scheme's announcement. Incredibly, Blatter would have permitted the league to explore the idea had protocol been followed. But with the Football Association adding to the criticism yesterday, world football's most powerful man remains livid that Scudamore chose not to forewarn him.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/22/premierleague">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportSepp BlatterFri, 22 Feb 2008 00:10:25 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/22/premierleagueMatt Scott2008-02-22T00:10:25ZDigger: FA hires Blatter men for bidhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/22/sport.comment1
<p>The Football Association has made the first external appointments to its 2018 World Cup bid team, hiring two former Fifa employees with exceptionally close ties to the president, Sepp Blatter.</p><p>Peter Hargitay, a PR consultant who is currently a special adviser to Blatter, and the former Fifa communications director Marcus Siegler have been retained on a six-figure contract via their company, European Consultancy Network Limited. Siegler spent 12 years with Fifa, presiding over events including the 2006 World Cup draw. Hargitay will step down from his post with Blatter at the end of the year, having worked for the president since his re-election in 2002, a campaign that was clouded by allegations of corruption.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/22/sport.comment1">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportWorld Cup 2018Sepp BlatterWorld CupThu, 22 Nov 2007 02:23:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/22/sport.comment1Paul Kelso2007-11-22T02:23:00ZDigger: Linsi farce costs Fifa &#163;3.6mhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/30/sport.comment3
<p>Sepp Blatter confirmed yesterday that Fifa has been forced to write off &pound;3.6m paid to its former general secretary Urs Linsi when he was sacked this year two months after negotiating a new contract. Coming after Fifa was forced to pay Mastercard &pound;45m in an out-of-court settlement for breaching the terms of a sponsorship agreement, mismanagement by executives and officials has cost the organisation close to &pound;50m this year.</p><p>Insiders maintain Linsi renegotiated his contract with a senior Fifa vice-president, Julio Grondona, who they allege did not consult Blatter before signing it off. Grondona was apparently unaware that Blatter had lost faith in Linsi last year and had planned to sack him even before he was re-elected for a third term at the Fifa congress in May.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/30/sport.comment3">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportSepp BlatterTue, 30 Oct 2007 00:20:39 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/30/sport.comment3Paul Kelso2007-10-30T00:20:39ZDigger: Blatter opens door for England World Cup bidhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/25/sport.comment
<p>An English bid for the 2018 World Cup appears a certainty after Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, personally assured the prime minister, Gordon Brown, that the bidding rules will be changed to permit a European run at the tournament.</p><p>Blatter told Brown at a meeting in Downing Street yesterday that the Fifa executive committee, which meets next week in Zurich, would approve a change in the current system whereby the World Cup rotates between continents. For his part Brown pledged to support a Fifa football initiative in Africa, the first of many deals the government and FA will have to cut if they want to bring the tournament to the UK.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/25/sport.comment">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportWorld Cup 2018Sepp BlatterWorld CupWed, 24 Oct 2007 23:24:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/25/sport.commentPaul Kelso2007-10-24T23:24:20ZDigger: Downing Street set to press Blatter over 2018http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/24/sport.comment
<p>Gordon Brown will have a chance to press England's claims to the 2018 World Cup today when the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, visits Downing Street. Blatter is in Britain to attend a dinner hosted by Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club, and is meeting the British prime minister to discuss issues arising from the European Union treaty adopted by national leaders last week, which includes a clause recognising the unique status of sport in public life.</p><p>Both Fifa and the International Olympic Committee would like the EU to go further and grant them exemptions from aspects of EC law and have targeted Brown, leader of one of the larger nations in the union and already an Olympic host, for lobbying.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/24/sport.comment">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportWorld Cup 2018Football politicsSepp BlatterWorld CupTue, 23 Oct 2007 23:23:08 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/24/sport.commentPaul Kelso2007-10-23T23:23:08ZDigger: Blatter's cue for English bidhttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/10/sport.comment
<p>Sepp Blatter will clear the way for an English bid to stage the 2018 World Cup by abandoning the rotation system currently used to award the tournament. The Fifa president this week told advisers that he wants to change the way tournaments are allocated, a decision that could be rubber-stamped by the executive committee as early as the end of the month. Currently the system is by strict rotation, but the new arrangement will see all continents, bar the hosts of the previous two finals, able to bid.</p><p>An English bid, which has the support of prime minister Gordon Brown, will face competition from China, Australia, Russia and possibly Italy. Brown's World Cup ambassador, Richard Caborn, is currently considering offers of support from consultancy firms, including one with exceptionally close ties to Blatter.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/10/sport.comment">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportWorld Cup 2018Sepp BlatterWorld CupTue, 09 Oct 2007 23:14:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/10/sport.commentPaul Kelso2007-10-09T23:14:28ZDigger: Blatter cool on English 2018 World Cup hopeshttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/01/sport.comment
<p>The Football Association's strategy for securing the 2018 World Cup was undermined yesterday by Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, who cast doubt on England's prospects within hours of his re-election.</p><p>With a decision on how future tournaments are awarded due in November, the FA's strategy is to lobby for an end to the current rotation system, under which the World Cup would not come back to Europe until 2026, in favour of a system that ensures every third tournament is staged in Europe. The strategy has considerable support from leading figures including Danny Jordaan, the chairman of the South Africa 2010 organising committee, not least because the majority of the game's revenue is generated in Europe.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/01/sport.comment">Continue reading...</a>FootballSportWorld Cup 2018Football politicsSepp BlatterWorld CupFri, 01 Jun 2007 09:58:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/01/sport.commentPaul Kelso in Zurich2007-06-01T09:58:45Z